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USB MSC Device Forensics: A Quick Guide for Windows

Hey there, tech detectives! If you're digging into USB devices on Windows 7 to 10, here's a handy guide to help you gather all the important details. Let's get started!


1. Vendor, Product, Version

  • Path: SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\USBSTOR

  • Vendor:

  • Product:

  • Version:

2. USB Unique Serial Number ID

  • Path: SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\USB

  • USB Unique Serial Number ID:

3. Vendor-ID (VID) and Product-ID (PID)

  • Path: SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\USB --> Perform search for UB S/N

  • VID:

  • PID:

4. Volume GUIDs

  • Path: SYSTEM\MountedDevices -->Search Serial Number in drive letter

  • VolumeGUID:

5. Drive Letter

  • Path: SYSTEM\MountedDevices --> Search for Volume GUID in drive letter

  • Drive Letter:

Or


NTUSER.DAT\Software\Microsoft\ Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RecentDocs -> Perform Search for Volume Name


Or


Perform Shortcut (LNK) file analysis-> Perform Search for Volume Name

Drive Letter=


6. Volume Name

  • Path: SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Portable Devices\Devices --> Search USB serial number an match with volume name

  • Volume Name:

  • Drive Letter (VISTA ONLY):

7. Volume Serial Number

  • Path: SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\EMDMgmt --> Search volume name/Serial Number. Convert Serial number to hex value for link analysis.

  • Volume Serial Number (HEX):

8. User of USB Device

  • Path: NTUSER.DAT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MountPoints2 -->Search for GUID

  • User:

9. First Time Device Connected

  • Path: C:\Windows\inf\setupapi.dev.log -->Search unique serial number

  • Time/Timezone:


SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\USBSTOR\ Ven Prod_ Version\USB iSerial #\Properties\ {83da6326-97a6-4088-9453-a1923f573b29} \0064 ->Value= Windows 64-Bit Hex Value timestamp - Use DCodeDate


10. Last Time Device Connected

  • Path: SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\USB\VID_XXXX&PID_YYYY -->Search serial number

  • Time/Timezone:


or


NTUSER//Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Explorer/MountPoints2/{GUID} -> Perform search for Device { GUID}

Time/Timezone =

SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\USBSTOR\ Ven_Prod_ Version\USB iSerial #\Properties\ {83da6326-97a6-4088-9453-a1923f573b29}\0066 ->Value= Windows 64-Bit Hex Value timestamp - Use DCodeDate


11. Time Device Removed

SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\USBSTOR\ Ven Prod_ Version\USB iSerial #\Properties\ {83da6326-97a6-4088-9453-a1923f573b29}\0067 ->Value= Windows 64-Bit Hex Value timestamp - Use DCodeDate


Tips for Timestamps

  • For Windows 64-bit Hex Value timestamps, use DCodeDate to decode them.

There you go! Keep this guide handy, and you'll be a USB forensics whiz in no time. Happy investigating!


Akash Patel


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